Ford set to shuffle Falcon pack

FORD Australia appears set to hit the reset button on its entry level models for its Falcon range when the facelifted sedan is launched in December this year.

So far, the company has only confirmed the upper models of the final edition of its home-grown large car – dubbed FG X – including the premium G6E and sports XR6, XR6 Turbo and born-again V8 XR8.

But there has been no mention of whether the current lower end models – the fleet-friendly XT and G6 – will both go around again in the final two years of the Falcon’s life before it gets the axe in 2016.

A rumour suggests the two lower models could merge into one, as Ford pushes Falcon further up-market into executive car territory.

Test cars have been spotted with a ‘Falcon’ badge on the lower left of the boot lid, in the same place as the G6E and XR6 badges on vehicles shown in publicity photographs released this week, leading to speculation that the new-look base model might simply be called Falcon.

Ford Australia brand communications manager Neil McDonald told GoAuto that the company was not yet ready to release the final model line-up for the Falcon, adding that he expected it to emerge in the next few weeks.

Apart from the addition of the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 in XR8 guise, the powertrain line-up will be the same as the current FG range, starting with the 2.0-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo petrol and locally made 4.0-litre inline six in petrol, petrol turbo and LPG EcoLPI formats.

Ford has been drip-feeding information on the new Falcon for weeks, most recently announcing the facelifted model will be called FG X. The X is in honour of the many ‘X’ designated models, including the original 1960 XK and others such as the XR, XW and XD that are considered classics by Ford fans.

In contrast to the Falcon, the related Territory SUV model range is already locked in. Ford says it will retain the TX, TS and Titanium variants, powered by the same choice of 4.0-litre petrol six and 2.7-litre TDCi V6 diesel engines.

The company says pricing, features and specifications of the Falcon and Territory will be announced closer to launch.

The Falcon will be shown to the media in late November before arriving in showrooms in early December.

The Ford new-model renaissance will continue in 2015 with a revised Focus small car – including the arrival of the hot Focus ST – a new-generation Mondeo, American Mustang coupe and locally developed, Thai-built Everest SUV.